Golden Anniversary - June 15

Fifty years ... that’s a long, long time to be married. In some ways it has flown by, especially when I think of our child-rearing days - gone in a heart-beat. In other ways it seems like the two of us have been “one” forever. 

Any couple who clings together for fifty years will be faced with struggles, frustrations, and pain. We are no exception, but with love and commitment to each other and to God, we weathered the hard times and came through them stronger than before.

Dan’s dedication to providing for our family, his sense of adventure and sense of humor, his generosity, his reverence for God, his delight in family traditions, his tender heart, his willingness to forgive, and his devotion to our children, grandchildren and to me - all of these attributes totally eclipse the tough times.

Dan, you had me from “hello,”  and you continue to light up my life.  Happy 50th anniversary!

June 15, 1969, Juneau, Alaska

Summer 1970 - Still newlyweds in Abilene, Texas, leaning against our 1968 Mustang

Summer 1975 - Juneau, Alaska - with Chris on Dan's shoulders

About 1985, at my folks' home, in Vancouver, Washington

About 1987 - Newberg, Oregon

Dan always had a unique sense of humor. He agreed to hold up this sign, early in the morning, before work. In return he got his coffee free that morning.

2005 - Grandpa meets Clara

A birthday gift from me to Dan - a helicopter tour of the Juneau ice field.

2002 - One of our adventures - a road trip up the Dempster, through Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada. Made it all the way to the shore of the Arctic Ocean.

The "Grands!" God's way of restoring our zest for life.

2019 - Our 50th summer as a married couple.

Memorial Day - Remembering My Dad

Dad was in the Navy and served as a radioman in the Pacific during WWII, and again during the Korean conflict. It was during the Korean war that he was stationed in Adak, Alaska. Mom and I lived in Navy housing there. That was our first introduction to Alaska.

I miss him all the time. I always called him "President of my fan club."

Memorial Day Weekend

On Thursday I used my new mixer for the first time, baking a braided loaf of Cinnamon Tunnel and Cherry Bread. We "taste-tested" it that evening (it passed the test), and then wrapped the rest of the loaf up to take to Katy with us on Friday, to share with the kids and grands.

We spent Friday afternoon, all day Saturday and Sunday until around 1:30 with the family.

The kids' last day of school was Thursday, so they were just starting their summer vacation as we got there. Clara will be going to orchestra camp starting today (Monday). She's still an enthusiastic musician, having received the "most outstanding musician in philharmonic" award for her school. While we were there, she spent a lot of her time practicing and performing for us. We are also really proud that she was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society this year.

Robert scooped up a whole passel of academic awards this year, as well. But what surprised me was seeing some of his art work. I didn't know he was such a good artist. I asked him if I could "buy" one of his works, and he offered me one that reminded me of Van Gogh's style. I told him that I'd be really happy to have it, but that I didn't want to take it if his Mommy wanted to keep it. He decided he'd auction it off between us - ha ha! He started the very competitive bidding at $5.00, and in the end I won with a $7.00 bid. Since I only had two five-dollar bills, and he couldn't make change, he got a $3.00 tip and made $10.00 on his painting. I can't wait to frame and hang it.

After church on Sunday we all went to lunch with some friends of Chris and Kelsey's, who were in town for the day. We have met them before, although they've added child-number-three and child-number-four to their family since we've been with them. So, in all, there were 12 of us at the restaurant. Following lunch we parted, and Dan and I drove back to Temple, arriving home around 4:30.

Losing an Old Friend - My KitchenAid Mixer

FORTY YEARS ago Dan spoiled me by encouraging me to buy a KitchenAid stand mixer. At that time in our lives, that was an extravagant purchase, and it took quite a bit of convincing on his part. But baking has always been a passion of mine, so I gratefully brought my new mixer home.

My "Almond" colored KitchenAid has moved with us from Salem, Oregon; to Newberg, Oregon; to Juneau, Alaska; to Albuquerque, New Mexico; and, finally, to Temple, Texas. It helped me raise our two boys. It was there for me when I baked with my grandkids.

It has has been used to make tasty breads;

It has helped me make ountless cookies of every variety;

It has beaten batter for birthday cakes, potluck cakes and family dinner cakes;  

It has partnered with me in making gingerbread creations;

And it saw me through my happy years with the "Daring Bakers" challenges. Here are a few of them:

Macarons

Nazook

Pavlova

Strudel

Tuiles

But . . . last month I was mixing up the batter for a Southern Caramel Cake to take to a church potluck when my beloved mixer began making a strange noise. I continued beating the batter, but when I turned off the mixer I heard Dan, calling from the other room: "What's wrong with your mixer?" I was in a little bit of denial. "Nothing!" I insisted. But when I tried to use it again, a little later, to make the caramel icing, I knew that I was wrong. The metallic noise and jarring vibrations coming from it now were so bad that I had to turn it off and finish making my icing with a little hand beater.

It's six weeks later, and I've really been missing my old "friend." It has continued to sit on my kitchen counter, but as nothing but a memorial of times past. 

So today Dan and I drove to Sam's Club and bought a brand new, even fancier model of KitchenAid mixer. If this wears out in 40 years, like the old one, I'll be 110 years old and probably won't be needing to buy a replacement. Two KitchenAids in one lifetime. Not bad!

I can't wait to try it out with some of my favorite recipes.

Did I mention the new color is "Aqua Sky?!"